Luis Alberto del Paraná
Encyclopedia
Luis Alberto del Paraná (1926–1974) was a Paraguay
an singer and guitarist. During the fifties, sixties and early seventies, he traveled extensively around the globe with his group Los Paraguayos
, popularizing Paraguayan music. He is the best-selling Paraguayan musician ever.
. His mother, Jacinta Mesa (not Meza), wrote him down in the Peace Jury on 14 April of that year.
Luis was the fourth son of eight children, of whom one was a girl, Obdulia (Chiquita), retired singer. Doña Jacinta, Paraná's mother died while he was touring in Europe, (Stockholm
) 15 August 1965, Luis's father, who was a rural teacher died in Piripucú, Concepcion
in 1947.
Luis attended primary school in Ypacarai. At the age of 14, Luis enters the boy-scouts in "Batallón Rojas Silva " (Salesianito), under Father Ernesto Pérez Acosta's management.
Toured through Center América, and after getting back, Luis Alberto del Paraná (artistic name adapted in Mexico
) forms a band with Digno García and Agustin Barboza
. This band was named "Los Paraguayos Threesome" and by decree, 24 November 1953 the National government gives each one of them 3200 dollars to distribute Paraguayan music in Europe in an "Official Cultural Mission".
His first wife was Lissette Cairoly, a French "circus princess". His second wife was Carmen González Caballero, a Spanish dancer. They had two children: Luis Manuel Meza González y Carmen Fabiola Meza González.
In (1958), in Milan
(Italy), Parana gifts Father Pérez with a complete set of percussion instruments for his former Scout Battalion to use. Later on, Paraná dedicated a song to Father Pérez. This song was recorded in an LP at Philips International and was world-widely distributed.
As the contract expired, the band dissolved and Paraná formed the band "los Paraguayos" with his brother Reynaldo Meza, Rubito Medina, and José de los Santos González, a harpist. They quickly recorded two LP's for Phillips in the Netherlands: "Famous Latin American Songs" and "Ambassador of Romance", which had great success. This way the recording of "more than 500 songs" began. They recorded hits after hits until Paraná died.
They shared the stage with The Beatles
and recorded with The Rolling Stones
.
Luis Alberto del Paraná and "Los Paraguayos" sold more than 20 000 000 records, more than 650 000 tape cassettes, and traveled more than 1 000 000 kilometers during tours.
His casket was transported to Asunción
, where it was carried off the plane by many dignitaries, including the President. It was huge event rarely seen by the nation. The people spontaneously packed the streets to say goodbye to their idol.
This event was named "The Chain of Pain" and almost all of the radio stations in Paraguay and many around the world tuned in to transmit every minute of the episode until his burial in "La Recoleta Cemetery".
(1989).
More about his artistic career, here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0660946/
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
an singer and guitarist. During the fifties, sixties and early seventies, he traveled extensively around the globe with his group Los Paraguayos
Los Paraguayos
Los Paraguayos is a music group consisting of musicians from Paraguay. Since its foundation in the 1950s, the group has featured many singers and musicians, playing guitars, bongo drums and a Paraguayan harp, including Luis Alberto del Paraná and Carlos Espinoza...
, popularizing Paraguayan music. He is the best-selling Paraguayan musician ever.
Family and early life
He was born on 21 June 1926 in Altos, ParaguayParaguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. His mother, Jacinta Mesa (not Meza), wrote him down in the Peace Jury on 14 April of that year.
Luis was the fourth son of eight children, of whom one was a girl, Obdulia (Chiquita), retired singer. Doña Jacinta, Paraná's mother died while he was touring in Europe, (Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
) 15 August 1965, Luis's father, who was a rural teacher died in Piripucú, Concepcion
Concepción Department (Paraguay)
Concepción is a department of Paraguay. The capital is the city of Concepción.- History :Throughout history, this department has suffered a great amount of poblational instability, especially in the times of the colony, due to the advance of the Brazilian “bandeirantes” through the east and the...
in 1947.
Luis attended primary school in Ypacarai. At the age of 14, Luis enters the boy-scouts in "Batallón Rojas Silva " (Salesianito), under Father Ernesto Pérez Acosta's management.
Adult life and artistic career
"The fact that he was meant to be an artist was clear from the age of eighteen, when he interpreted 'Campo Grande' alongside Humberto Barúa and Digno García, a great harpist. It was there, in the old Rex theatre that people started to feel attracted by this young, enthusiastic countryside boy."Toured through Center América, and after getting back, Luis Alberto del Paraná (artistic name adapted in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) forms a band with Digno García and Agustin Barboza
Agustín Barboza
Agustín Pío Barboza was a Paraguayan singer and composer.-Childhood and youth:Barboza was born in Asunción, Paraguay. In his adolescence , he went to Buenos Aires to work as a seaman aboard the Mixu, a ship flying the Argentine flag. Alternating his work of seaman with musical activities, he met...
. This band was named "Los Paraguayos Threesome" and by decree, 24 November 1953 the National government gives each one of them 3200 dollars to distribute Paraguayan music in Europe in an "Official Cultural Mission".
His first wife was Lissette Cairoly, a French "circus princess". His second wife was Carmen González Caballero, a Spanish dancer. They had two children: Luis Manuel Meza González y Carmen Fabiola Meza González.
In (1958), in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
(Italy), Parana gifts Father Pérez with a complete set of percussion instruments for his former Scout Battalion to use. Later on, Paraná dedicated a song to Father Pérez. This song was recorded in an LP at Philips International and was world-widely distributed.
As the contract expired, the band dissolved and Paraná formed the band "los Paraguayos" with his brother Reynaldo Meza, Rubito Medina, and José de los Santos González, a harpist. They quickly recorded two LP's for Phillips in the Netherlands: "Famous Latin American Songs" and "Ambassador of Romance", which had great success. This way the recording of "more than 500 songs" began. They recorded hits after hits until Paraná died.
They shared the stage with The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and recorded with The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
.
Luis Alberto del Paraná and "Los Paraguayos" sold more than 20 000 000 records, more than 650 000 tape cassettes, and traveled more than 1 000 000 kilometers during tours.
Death and burial
He died on 15 September 1974 in London, England. He was at the first floor at the Prembridge Court Hotel, in room eight when he suffered from a brain stroke.His casket was transported to Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, where it was carried off the plane by many dignitaries, including the President. It was huge event rarely seen by the nation. The people spontaneously packed the streets to say goodbye to their idol.
This event was named "The Chain of Pain" and almost all of the radio stations in Paraguay and many around the world tuned in to transmit every minute of the episode until his burial in "La Recoleta Cemetery".
Discography
- Paraguayan Song Nº 1
- Paraguayan Song Nº 2
- Bajo el Cielo del Paraguay
- Famous Latin American Songs
- South American Minstrels
- Trovador Tropical
- Trovador Tropical Nº 2
- Tropical Trip
- Ambassadors of Romance
- Historia de un Amor
- Buenas noches mi amor
- En escena
- Para mí, Para tí, Paraná
- Sentimentally yours
- Canciones de las Américas
- La Burrerita de Ypacarai
- În România I
- În România II
- În România III
- În România IV
- În România V
- Mi Guitarra y mi Voz
- Felicidades
- Amici, Amici
- All Star Festival - UNICEF
- Acuarela Paraguaya
- Por todo el mundo...
- Paraguayos in Tokio
- Popular Favourites
- Music Minstrels Please
- San Remo 1966
- Fiesta Asuncena
- En Buenos Aires
- Con los Violines de Lima
- World Hits
- Live in Concert
- Siempre el mejor
- Espléndido
- In London
- Papillón
- Epopeya Nacional
- Éxtasis Tropìcal
- Latin American Dance Party
- Live in Concert... Berlín
- Canciones Tropicales
- Adiós Mariquita Linda
- Quizás, quizás, quizás
In popular culture
His recordings "Hace un Año" and "Malagueña" were used in the film Born on the Fourth of JulyBorn on the Fourth of July (film)
Born on the Fourth of July is a 1989 American film adaptation of the best selling autobiography of the same name by Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic. Tom Cruise plays Kovic, in a performance that earned him his first Academy Award nomination. Oliver Stone co-wrote the screenplay with Kovic, and also...
(1989).
More about his artistic career, here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0660946/